Carl Lyle Bailey, 70

Carl Lyle Bailey, 70, "arrived in the arms of Jesus" on March 13, 2011, leaving the Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a brief battle with leukemia, with his loving wife by his side.

He looked forward to “being in the presence of his Lord, who was Master of his life.” Carl's strength and courage over these past few months are a testimony for all. He kept his family and friends laughing and seeing the bright side of everything, even through the difficult periods of his illness.

Carl adored his family, church family and friends, and held them close to his heart. Giving back to his community as a Salvation Army bell ringer, Gideon, Meals on Wheels delivery, cooking at the Solid Rock Cafe for his church family, and teaching cribbage were a source of joy for him. He was a "natural" at playing Santa Claus, along with being the Keebler Elf and the Good Neighbor Bear. Carl had an amazing heart that just kept on giving to others, spreading joy and laughter everywhere he went.

He was a star athlete in high school and had a basketball scholarship with Pasadena Nazarene College. He loved the outdoors and over the years excelled in many sports and hobbies with a passion. He loved riding his bike everywhere and he worked out every day, until only his illness could slow him down.

Carl and the love of his life, Marilyn, were married in California, and enjoyed 35 wonderful years together, blending their two families: his children, Brittany Elizabeth Bailey and Robert Alan Bailey, and her children, Gregory Alan Roper and Nancy Jane Roper, who were brought into his heart as his own. They spent 12 years in Missoula where they owned the Snow King Drive-In, and raised their children.

The last 16 years of Carl's life were spent in Kalispell, working as an adjuster for State Farm Insurance and thoroughly enjoying his grandchildren, whom he loved with all his heart. Carl    was known for his infectious laugh, contagious smile, incredibly funny sense of humor, and the unending love he had for his wife and family. He loved Jesus with all his heart and “brightly shined His light everywhere he went.”

 He will be missed by all, but he was special enough to leave a very dear part of him with each and every one who ever knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Irma Bailey.

Carl is survived by the family whom he cherished, his beautiful wife, Marilyn, in Kalispell; his children, Greg Roper and Stephanie Cussick of Seattle, Cory and Nancy Wagner of Kalispell, Nicholas and Brittany Strouse of Westport, Conn., and Robert Bailey of Missoula; and his grandchildren, Tess and Sage VerNeuil, Israel and Navah Strouse, Amanda Pace, Cody Tackett, Zackery Husskisson, and Leanna Bailey, who is the mother of Carl's only great-granddaughter, Mallory.

Carl has a sister, Patricia Hanson, of Kalispell, brother, Charles, and his wife, Judy Bailey, of Paradise Valley, Ariz., and nieces and nephews, Doug and Karen Bailey and their son Kyle, Dave and Linda Bailey and their children Heather and Matthew, and Mike and Karen Weiss.

A celebration of Carl's life will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Easthaven Baptist Church, on Whitefish Stage Road in Kalispell.